Womack Puckett is given identifier C10 in Christine South Gee's book, The roots and some of the branches of the Puckett family tree.
Gee placed Womack Puckett as the son of William Puckett and his wife Anne, whom Gee thought was a Womack. I believe Womack Puckett was the son of Thomas Puckett and Mary Womack.
One problem is that Womack Puckett, when he died, was in possession of some of the land originally patented in 1682 to William Puckett and Thomas Puckett . Womack Puckett's son Ephraim Puckett was apparently the eldest son and inherited the land via primogeniture; Ephraim then gifted that land "unto his Brother Womack Puckett" in 1758 (Chesterfield Co, VA DB 3:229), "part of a patent granted to William Puckett and Thomas Puckett bearing date he Twelveth Day of September in the year One thousand six hundred and sixty two". The 12 Sep 1662 patent date is wrong - the patent was dated 20 Nov 1682 (Virginia Patent Book 7:200). When Womack Puckett (Jr) sold part of this land in 1778 to John Robertson (Chesterfield Co, VA DB 8:234), the deed states "it being the plantation where the said Womack Puckett's Grandfather lived".
However, Thomas Puckett, who I think was the father of Womack Puckett, gave all his land to son William Puckett, who in turn sold it to his first cousin William Puckett, as shown by these records:
Henrico Co, VA Wills and Deeds 1714-1718:48
This writing Witnesseth that I Thomas Puckett of the County of Henrico being in age and past my Labour and being indebted to some persons in the said County and being not of ability to labour to pay those Debts[.] I do make over to my Son William Puckett all my Lands and moveables to mantain me during my natural Life and to pay those Debts only these things specifyed[:] a Bed without furniture a Square musket[?] Gun a Cow and Calf a young horse all my personal Estate Except those things here mentioned[.] I do here by this writing make over to my son William Pucket his heirs Executors Administrators that so by him they or them to Comply with what is above said to which I set my hand and seal this fourth day of March 1712
[Signed] Tho Pucket his signum T P
Signed Sealed & delivered In the presents & sight
Mary Granger TTT her signum
Jno Granger
At a Court held for Henrico County the third dated October 1715 - This Deed was proved to be the Act and Deed of Thomas Puckett by the Oath of John Granger One of the Witnesses thereto and was thereupon admited to Record
Test William Randolph Clerk
Some notes on the above record. This record has been cited as both a Deed and a Will, but is was recorded as a Deed. Note that the date of the deed, 4 Mar 1712 [4 Mar 1713 in New Style dates], is the last known record of Thomas Puckett alive. The deed was witnessed by Thomas's sister, Mary Puckett Womack Granger, and her second husband, John Granger. This is the last known record of her alive. Her sign (signum in Latin) looks like 3 capital T's pushed together, but I think it was meant to be a blocky letter 'M' for Mary. Note that Thomas Puckett's wife, Mary Womack, was likely dead by this date, since she is not mentioned. These sorts of deeds in which property is given to support an older person were common, and usually mentioned the wife if she is living, to support her as well.
Henrico Co, VA Wills and Deeds 1714-1718:152
[Abstract] Deed 28 Feb 1716, between "William Puckett the younger son of Tho: Puckett deceased" and "William Puckett Son of William Puckett Senr", for 5 shillings, lease 127.5 acres in Henrico Co, north side of Appomattox River, part of 700 acres granted by Patent to William Puckett and Thomas Puckett dated 20 Nov 1682, property description says near the King's Road, and a point in Richard Womack's line. The buyer to pay the seller yearly in grain and Indian corn for 3 years, then to actually possess. Witnesses: John Soane, James Cocke. Signed "Wm Puckett ye younger, X his marke". Henrico court, 4 Mar 1716, deed acknowledged by William Puckett the younger.
Henrico Co, VA Wills and Deeds 1714-1718:152
[Abstract] Deed 1 Mar 1716, between "William Puckett the younger son of Thos Puckett dec'd" and "William Puckett Son of William Puckett", for 5 pounds, 127.5 acres in Henrico Co, north side of Appomattox River, being part of tract granted by patent dated 20 Nov 1682 to "William Puckett Senr and Thomas Puckett dec'd". Witnesses: John Soane, James Cocke. Signed "Wm Puckett ye younger, X his marke". Henrico court, 4[?] Mar 1716, deed acknowledged by William Puckett the younger.
Some notes in these two deeds.
These deeds were actually in 1717 as we reckon dates today. Old Style and New Style dates.
These deeds show that Thomas Puckett died between 4 Mar 1713 (New Style) and 28 Feb 1717 (New Style).
The second deed says that the 1682 patent was for "William Puckett Senr and Thomas Puckett dec'd", which confirms it was for the fathers of the two William Pucketts (the buyer and seller).
The first deed is a lease to sell after a period of 3 years in which William Puckett son of Thomas Puckett would be paid in grain and corn. Since this deed was actually in Feb 1717, and William Puckett (son of Thomas) was dead by 31 July 1719, he may have been ill for a while before his death, and unable to work, and needed the grain and corn to feed his family.
The two deeds total 255 acres. Thomas Puckett had 300 acres in the April 1705 Quit Rent rolls of Henrico Co, VA. So, William Puckett, son of Thomas, may have still had 45 acres.
William Puckett, son of Thomas, married Mabel Walthall between 1 Oct 1715 and 31 July 1719:
From the will of Dinah Walthall (Henrico Co, VA WD 1714-1718:73), dated 1 Oct 1715, it appears her sister Mabel was undecided whether to marry William Puckett: To sister Mavel, 1 shilling if she marry William Puckett, otherwise to divide my new goods with her sister. On 9 Jan 1713/14 (1714 New Style), Richard Walthall made his will (Henrico Co, VA WD 1714-1718:27) naming several children, among them Mabell and Dyanah.
William Puckett married Mabel Walthall after 1 Oct 1715, and he died by 31 July 1719 when his estate was appraised: William Pucket Inventory (Henrico Co, VA Misc Court records 1718-1726:463-4, 007898202:269), Appraised 31 July 1719, by James Baugh, unreadable signature (possibly Henry Sherman), Thomas Baugh. Presented in Henrico court 3 Aug 1719 by Mabell Puckett
Mabel remarried to Womack Puckett, which we know from Orphan Court records: Henrico Co, VA Orphans Court:55 (007676115:250), 5 Oct 1725, Summoned Womack Pucket who married with Mabel relict of William Pucket decd.
William Puckett had children with Mabel, because Womack Puckett, Mabel's new husband, was summoned to the Orphan's court. Nothing is known of these children, or if any survived childhood. If William Puckett (son of Thomas) did have land remaining after selling to his first cousin William Puckett (son of William), and he had a son who survived to adulthood, the eldest son inherited the land; if he had only daughters, they would have split the land by inheritance laws of the time. If all William's children died young, any land would probably have been inherited by Womack Puckett, who was probably the eldest surviving brother of William, or by Mabel as the mother, who was coveneniently married to Womack Puckett.
However, Womack Puckett did purchase land.
Henrico Co, VA OB 1737-1746:23 - 6 Feb 1737/1738 - William Pucket acknowledges his deed to Womack Pucket. [LDS Film 007894525:19. Note the film is near impossible to read, you can barely make out "Womack Pucket" in the bottom third of the left-hand page in the image. The transcription comes from the book Henrico County, Virginia, Court Order Book 1737-1746, by Iberian Publishing, 2016. They likely got access to the actual book kept at the Library of Virginia.]
This was almost certainly William Puckett, son of William, selling land to Womack Puckett, likely part of the same land sold by William Puckett, son of Thomas. The actual deed book for this period is gone, so this court record of the deed being proved is all we have.
So, Womack Puckett, by 1738, owned land, likely part of the same land sold by William Puckett, son of Thomas to William Puckett, son of William.
The 1736 tax list shows Womack Puckett with 208 acres. The deed from William Puckett could have been dated years earlier than when it was proved in Feb 1738, or Womack Puckett could have been renting the land, and responsible for the taxes.
Christine South Gee never presented her reasoning as to why she assigned Womack Puckett as the son of William Puckett and his wife Anne. My guess is that it was the land question, given that Thomas Puckett gave his land to his son William Puckett, who sold most or all of it to his first cousin, William Puckett, son of William. Since later deeds of Chesterfield Co, VA (formed from Henrico in 1749) show that Womack Puckett owned part of the 1682 patent to Thomas and William Puckett, I think Gee reasoned that Womack Puckett was the son of William from whom he inherited land. However, the above documentation shows that Womack Puckett could have inherited land from brother William, and in any case Womack Puckett purchased land from his cousin William Puckett.
The notion that William Puckett Sr married "Anne Womack" is weak. It is based entirely on the 1697 Henrico Co, VA will of Thomas Womack, in which Thomas Womack names "brother Abraham Womeck" and "brother Thomas Puckett" (it was common to call a brother-in-law "brother"). The will mentions "William Puckett" but does not call him brother.
The tradition of Isham Puckett's family comes from the book A history of Welcome Garrett and his descendants by Samuel B Garret. Online at FamilySearch.
Welcome Garrett was a Quaker. His daughter Mary Garrett married Joseph Puckett, son of Thomas Puckett of Surry Co, NC. On p.18 of A history of Welcome Garrett and his descendants, there is a history of Joseph Puckett, which says he is the son of Thomas and Mary (Taylor) Puckett, and the grandson of Isom and Martha Puckett. Note that Isom and Isam are variations of Isham. Note that this tradition was "related by Isom Puckett to his nephew. Tyre T, and related by Tyre T Puckett some years ago to his nephew, Reverdy Puckett, and by him reduced to writing."
This was a little unclear to me at first. What this meant was that this tradition was orally passed from Isham/Isom Puckett, son of Thomas Puckett and Mary Taylor, to his nephew Tyre T Puckett, son of Joseph Puckett and Mary Garrett, who in turn orally passed it to his nephew, Reverdy Puckett (1854-1920).
Isham & Martha > Thomas & Mary > Isham/Isom
Isham & Martha > Thomas & Mary > Joseph > Tyre T
Isham & Martha > Thomas & Mary > Joseph > Levi > Reverdy
This account of the Isham and Martha Puckett family states that they had seven sons: i. Isom Jr [Isham Jr], ii. Thomas, iii. Page, iv, Solomon, v. Warnuck [sic, Womack], vi. John, vii. Daniel. It says John Puckett disappeared after entering service during the Revolutionary War, and Womack Puckett was a soldier who was unfairly punished for allowing a prisoner to escape. There is more history concerning Quaker Thomas Puckett, son of Isham and Martha, since Thomas's descendants intermarried multiple times with the Garrett family.
The information in A history of Welcome Garrett and his descendants is how we "know" about the family of Isham Puckett and his family. I don't think this has ever been documented by anyone doing genealogy on this family.
We should be cautious with any information handed down orally so many times. There is a high probability of mistakes, and mixing up stories that happened to other people. However, most of this information seems correct.
See https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Puckett-41 for some info on Isham Puckett Sr.
Solomon Puckett (son of Isham Puckett) and Mary Ezell
Mary Ezell, daughter of Michael & Sarah Ezell married a Mr Puckett and had son Parham Puckett and daughter Mary Puckett who married a Mr Andrews. After Mr Puckett's death, Mary Ezell Puckett married William Knight (24 Jan 1785, Duplin Co, NC). There was also a Reuben Puckett in early records of Duplin Co, NC who may have been a son of Mary Ezell Puckett Knight.
Michael Ezell and wife Sarah lived in eastern Mecklenburg Co, VA near Isham Puckett Sr. See https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/G4BV-BXY
Solomon Puckett was on the 1776 "10,000 Names" petition for religious liberty in Virginia. Go to Library of Virginia Digital Tools, search for 000606093, open the PDF, go to page 50 of 193. The official title is "Ask for the disestablishment of the Church of England and freedom from taxation for religious purposes." The 10,000 Names petition was transcribed in several issues of Magazine of Virginia Genealogy, now called the Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, available at Ancestry.com.
Few of the pages in the petition identify the area, but genealogists have made guesses based on the names. The area where Solomon Puckett was most likely Brunswick or Greensville county, but a lot of the names are from Mecklenburg county as well. Solomon Puckett's page has two columns, with Solomon in the first column. Other names in the first column, as transcribed by Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, include Robert Nance, Thomas Malone Sr, Francis Lightfoot, Richard Ezell (this is a mistake), Benjamin Ezell, and Thomas Nance (also a mistake). See Virginia Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vol 36, Number 1, p.27 at ancestry.com.
The 'Thomas Nance' name is obviously a mistake for Isham Nance, who appears multiple times in records of Mecklenburg Co, VA.
Note that the names of 3 men on this list, Isham Nance, Thomas Malone and Francis Lightfoot, match the names of the men who apprenticed children of Isham Puckett Jr.
The 'Richard Ezell' name is faint and difficult to read, but I believe this is actually 'Michael Ezell'. There don't appear to be records for a Richard Ezell in this area of Virginia, but there was a Michael Ezell. A Benjamin Ezell signed 3 names after Michael; Benjamin Ezell was Michael's son.
Based on the 10,000 names list with Solomon Puckett and Michael Ezell, and the proximity of Michael Ezell to Isham Puckett Sr, it appears likely that Mary Ezell married Solomon Puckett.
Possible Rev War:
https://www.carolana.com/NC/Revolution/patriots_nc_capt_griffith_john_mcree.html -(search for Pucket) unit out of Wilmington, Duplin Co, NC, where Ezell family migrated from Mecklenburg Co, VA.
https://www.revwarapps.org/b76.pdf (search for Pucket)
Note I am somewhat dubious since the name Puckett often a mis-transcription of Pickett, Prickett, etc. These Revolutionary War records often consist of lists of names that are difficult to read without additional context.
Note that Isham Puckett Sr in his deed records owned land adjacent Lewis Parham, possibly the namesake of Parham Puckett. Parham Puckett had a grandson named Lewis Parham Puckett.
Isham Puckett Jr (son of Isham Puckett) and Susannah Smith
Mecklenburg Co, VA OB 4:320 (008190598:184) - Court 9 Oct 1775 - Whereas this Court is informed that Isham Puckett jun: is disorderly person and that he does not take care to instruct his children in the principles of religion It is therefore Ordered that the children of the said Puckett be bound out to the following persons by the Churchwardens of Saint James 's Parish, to wit , Nancy Puckett to Thomas Malone , Phebe Puckett to Isham Nance , & Grief Puckett to Francis Lightfoot as the Law directs.
Mecklenburg Co, VA OB 4:459 (008190598:253) - Court 12 Apr 1779 - [Abstract] Ordered that the Churchwardens bind ... Grief Pucket son of Susanna Pucket to Stephen Mabry
Mecklenburg Co, VA OB 6:4 (008098391:21) - Court 10 May 1784 - For reasons appearing to the Court It is Ordered that Grief Puckett an Apprentice to Stephen Mabry be discharged from the said Mabry 's service and that the Churchwardens bind out the said Puckett according to Law
Mecklenburg Co, VA OB 6:659 (008098391:349) - Court 12 Mar 1787 - [Abstract] Susanna Puckett vs Senior Douglass on a petition, suit to be decided by James Harwell and John Davis Jr.
Mecklenburg Co, VA OB 7:72 (008098391:432) - Court 14 Aug 1787 - The petition of Susannah Puckett against Senior Douglass is dismissed
Warren Co, NC DB 13:191 - (20070:740) Deed 24 Dec 1792, Green Duke of Warren Co, NC to James William John Thomas Benjamin Heith Edward Duke and Robert Wortham heirs at law of William Wortham, whereas Tamer Wortham, now Tamer Jones, widow of said William Wortham obtained an allotment of her dower and conveyed that dower to William Duke who lately died intestate, ... [The list of heirs has no commas to separate names, but the sons of William Worthen/Wortham and wife Tamer appear to be James Worthen, William Worthen, John Worthen, Thomas Worthen, Benjamin Heath Worthen, Edward Duke Worthen and Robert Worthen.]
Warren Co, NC Marriages - James Warthen to Nancy Puckett, 16 June 1785, Joseph Lambert bondsman
Warren Co, NC Marriages - William Warthen to Phebey Puckett, 23 Dec 1790, Bennet Hargrove bondsman
From Some Pucketts and Their Kin, published 1960., p.106: Mrs Bettie L Broadbent [maiden name Leeright] of Salem, OR: I think my ancestors were: 5. Isham Puckett Jr and Susanna Smith; 6. Nancy Puckett who married James Elias Worthen and moved to Illinois. [Bettie Leeright (b1886) > George W Leewright > George W Leewright & Julia Worthen > William Worthen > James Worthen & Nancy Puckett]
See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/175774405/nancy-worthen - info not verified by me, but Nancy Puckett and James Worthen appear to have had a son named Isham Worthen.
In 1958, Christine South Gee published what is still the best resource on the Puckett family with her book, The roots and some of the branches of the Puckett family tree. Her main goal, to link her great-great-grandfather, William Smith Puckett to Virginia Puckett family. She thought William Smith Puckett's father was James D Puckett, but that is incorrect, as James D Puckett was (with 99% certainty) the son of Charles Puckett. Also, Christine South Gee thought William Smith Puckett was born in Laurens Co, SC, but the SC death certificate of one of his daughters, Catherine Delia Reeves, who died 1 Apr 1915, Laurens Co, SC, says she was born 28 Nov 1838 in Laurens, and that her parents were William Smith Puckett and Cath. Delia Knight, both born in Chester [County], SC. See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107474585/william-smith-puckett
See Chester Co, SC Pucketts for info on Grief Puckett and William Smith Puckett, who were obviously related somehow. Grief appears to have had a son William who died as a young man (see Chester Co page), so William Smith Puckett was probably not his son.
Two facts Christine South Gee had about William Smith Puckett:
His daughters said his mother was Susannah Smith
He was living in Overton Co, TN when he enlisted for the War of 1812
Overton Co, TN DB J:149 (981134:480) - Bond, John Watkins of Overton Co, TN to William Warthen of same, 13 Oct 1842, to provide full and decent maintenance for said William Warthen and Phebe his wife...
Tennessee Early Land Registers , RG-50, Series 2, Book 47, Entry Book, 3rd Surveyor's District, 1814-1818 - p.248 (image 146), Entry 4432, William Warthen, in Overton Co, Roaring River, joins Stephen Mayfield, 23 Feb 1816.
See https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/236917774/william_warthan - info not verified by me, but William Worthen and Phebe Puckett appear to have had a son named James Smith Worthen.
I cannot find evidence of any Puckett family in Overton Co, TN before 1812. It appears William Smith Puckett was there with the family of William Worthen and his wife Phebe Puckett when he enlisted in the War of 1812.
It is unknown how Bettle Leeright Broadbent knew that her ancestor Nancy Puckett was the daughter of Isham Puckett Jr and Susannah Smith.
This is all confusing, because Isham Puckett Jr appears to have moved to Surry Co, NC by 1778 - see https://rebgen.blogspot.com/2023/12/puckett-surry-county-north-carolina.html. The land entry could refer to his father, Isham Puckett Sr. An Isham Puckett was on the 1782 tax list of Surry Co, NC (link), and appear from tax lists to have moved to Henry Co, VA by 1785, in an area which became Patrick Co, VA in 1791. Isham Puckett continues to appear on tax lists through 1807. After that he possibly died or got a tax exemption for old age. A deed in Patrick Co, VA in 1799 gives Isham's wife as Elizabeth.
Meanwhile, Susannah Smith Puckett appears in court records in Mecklenburg Co, VA in the 1780s, and her daughters marry Worthen brothers across the NC border in Warren Co, NC. William Worthen and Phebe Puckett move to Overton Co, TN. James Worthen and Nancy Puckett are in Jackson Co, IL by 1810 IL Census. Grief Puckett in Chester Co, SC by 1800 census. His mother Susannah appears to have gone to SC with Grief, and gave birth to William Smith Puckett circa 1792.
Either the Isham Puckett in Patrick Co, VA was not Isham Puckett Jr, son of Isham Sr & Martha Puckett, which seems unlikely to me, or he abandoned Susannah and took a common-law-wife and started having children with her in the early 1770s. Divorce was nearly impossible at this time, and it was not unheard of for a man to have a second family. Robert Puckett married Elizabeth Rice and had several children with her, but also had several children with mistress Sally Potter. Isham Puckett Jr appears to be the father of John Puckett, born circa 1770, who married Martha "Patsey" Spence, as well as Rebecca Puckett, born circa 1771, who (supposedly) married Burwell Spence - I see the evidence Burwell's first wife was Rebecca, but not that her maiden name was Puckett; Burwell & Rebecca had son Isham Spence. It appears Isham Puckett Jr was more than "disorderly" - it appears he abandoned his first wife and their children, causing them to be bound out to other families, and he started having children with another woman. Meanwhile, it appears William Smith Puckett was born out of wedlock circa 1792 in Chester Co, SC to his mother, Susannah Smith Puckett and an unknown father. There may be other explanations I have not considered. But this explains the Susannah Smith ancestor common to Christine South Gee and Bettle Leeright Broadbent.
Womack Puckett, son of Isham Puckett Sr
Brunswick Co, VA OB 13:328 (007644021:507) - Court 24 Jan 1780 - Womack Puckett being brought before the Court by his Consent charged with stealing a Horse the property of Thomas Barnes of Surry County in North Carolina , and thereupon Thomas Sadler , and Gerrad Ladd delivered their Testimony on affirmation being Quakers , and the said Puckett heard in his defence whereupon It is the opinion of the Court that the said Prisoner ought to be conveyed by the Sheriff of this County to the State of North Carolina and delivered to Justice of the said State to be dealt with according to Law
Some notes: this ties Womack Puckett to his brothers who moved to Surry Co, NC. Note the involvement of Quakers, whose testimony was valued due to their honesty. Womack Puckett's brother, Thomas Puckett, was a Quaker. This court record was in Brunswick Co, VA, just east of Mecklenburg Co, VA, where Womack Puckett's father, Isham Puckett Sr, had land.